Creative Planning Acquires 5,198 Shares of WPP plc (NYSE:WPP)

Creative Planning grew its holdings in WPP plc (NYSE:WPP) by 21.3% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 29,629 shares of the business services provider’s stock after buying an additional 5,198 shares during the period. Creative Planning’s holdings in WPP were worth $1,516,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in WPP. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD lifted its holdings in WPP by 46.5% during the 1st quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 3,350,015 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $158,791,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062,708 shares during the last quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP raised its position in shares of WPP by 7.0% in the second quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 652,269 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $30,232,000 after purchasing an additional 42,690 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of WPP by 24.5% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 321,973 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $14,759,000 after buying an additional 63,363 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of WPP by 15.9% during the 2nd quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 199,110 shares of the business services provider’s stock worth $9,115,000 after buying an additional 27,384 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in WPP by 72.0% in the 2nd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 191,401 shares of the business services provider’s stock valued at $9,247,000 after buying an additional 80,102 shares during the last quarter. 4.34% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

WPP Stock Performance

WPP stock opened at $54.33 on Wednesday. WPP plc has a 52 week low of $41.91 and a 52 week high of $54.45. The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $49.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $49.14.

WPP Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, October 11th will be given a dividend of $0.954 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, October 11th. This is a positive change from WPP’s previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.24.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of WPP from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. Citigroup raised WPP to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 8th.

About WPP

WPP plc, a creative transformation company, provides communications, experience, commerce, and technology services in North America, the United Kingdom, Western Continental Europe, the Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Central and Eastern Europe. The company operates through three segments: Global Integrated Agencies, Public Relations, and Specialist Agencies.